October 21, 2024

Linked, please find the NYS Council’s 2025-2026 Budget Priorities document.  We are using this document in budget meetings with representatives from the Governor’s Office, DOB, OMH, OASAS, DOH and DFS.

Also linked below, please find:

1) Sign-on letter NYS Council drafted and circulated to our advocacy colleagues re: our request for a carve out (from the state’s Medicaid managed care program) of OMH and OASAS mental health and substance use disorder services

2) A FAQ document we use when explaining why we need a carve out of our services

3) A letter we just sent to Commissioner James McDonald and State Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri urging DoH to include peers on the list of targeted titles for New York’s new Career Pathways Initiative – a part of NY’s new 1115 Waiver Program.

4) A letter to the Governor with a request that the January ’25 executive budget proposal include language to ensure children/youth/families with commercial insurance have access to the same group of OMH and OASAS programs and services that are currently available to children/youth/families with Medicaid. 

Thank you for your patience as we put the package of documents together.  Feel free to reach out to me if you need additional information or have a comment/question regarding these materials.